Scriptural Text:

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Message: Perseverance: the remedy for spiritual drift.

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Illustration

Born for Victory

Have we forgotten the series of tragedies that assailed Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American poet and essayist? Emerson’s early years were filled with books and a demanding daily routine. Poor health plagued him. After being sanctioned to preach, he was forced to go south because of tuberculosis. In 1829 he became pastor of Old North Church in Boston. The same year he married Ellen Tucker. Two years later she died of tuberculosis. A theological controversy cost him his pulpit in Boston. One biographer wrote, “A doom seemed to hover over his family and his life. But under the surface, dark as it was at the moment, a purpose was taking form in his mind. He knew he was born for victory.”

We will drift if we don’t persevere! “Therefore we must pay the closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.”

Thus perseverance is an implication of the biblical teaching that we can be assured of salvation (; ; and )

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Some entertain the thoughts, “can I lose my salvation,” and “I will not ever my your salvation” after that you have taste and see that there lords is good. Is this possible after being regenerated, justified, adopted by God, and united with Jesus.

Therefore these thoughts results in pondering:

no guarantee salvation is permanent, which leads to experiencing a great deal of anxiety and insecurity that will detract from the major tasks of the Christian life.on the other hand if salvation is absolutely secure, if we are preserved quite independently of what we do or what our life is like, then there may well be , as a result, a sort of indifference to the moral and spiritual demands of the gospel.

no guarantee salvation is permanent, which leads to experiencing a great deal of anxiety and insecurity that will detract from the major tasks of the Christian life.

on the other hand if salvation is absolutely secure, if we are preserved quite independently of what we do or what our life is like, then there may well be , as a result, a sort of indifference to the moral and spiritual demands of the gospel.

The failure in perseverance of Judas, Demas, and Hymenaeus must be kept in mind, and the dread possibility of neglecting so great a salvation (), being disqualified (), falling while we think we stand (), and committing apostasy ().

For, as the Master said, “He who endures to the end will be saved” (; ).

But glory hallelujah! While genuine believers can fall away, they will not. Because though Perseverance we are being Preserved!

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Because though Perseverance we are being Preserved!

A. This persistent patience is called for in prayer (eight times, ; );

A. This persistent patience is called for in prayer (eight times, ; );